In 2009, Google introduced its own URL to the SHORTENER service. Which is known as GOO.GL. The aim was to make users' link sharing and traffic measurements easier. After a decade many things have changed. The use of the internet has got a lot of expansion in the mobile phone beyond the computer. And many alternative URL SHORTENING service has been launched. So Google is going to goo.gl away from different routes. To date, this service is one of the most used services. Google has announced that they will shut down the URL Shortener Service on April 13. Google says they will launch a dynamic link app instead of URL shortening services.
Those who have not used goo.gl till now, they will never get this service. However, those who use goo.gl can get goo.gl service for another year. After 30 March 2015, this service will be completely closed. However, the previously created links will be redirected. There is no problem with that. They have suggested using goog.gl as FDL (FIREBASE DYANAMIC LINKS), bit.ly and ow.ly.
Firebase software engineer Michael Harmand wrote in a blog post on Google Developer blog, efforts, we're turning down support for goo.gl over the coming weeks and replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). FDLs are smart URLs that allow you to send existing and potential users to any location within an iOS, Android or web app. We're excited to grow and improve.
Why did Google make this decision?
Although the URL of the Goo.gl service was short, there was nothing special about it. And like the five URL shortening services, there was also the limitation of Deep Linking. A link could not work equally for all types of devices. It can be a little complicated to talk about, I explain.
What is Deep Linking (DEEP LINKING)?
Deep linking in the general language is a hyperlink link that links to specific web pages or web content. For example: Suppose a website is xyz.com. It has a page that links to xyz.com/books. The next link is the Deep Link because it will not be the first one to take it to a particular page. The first link will be taken to the original site, not the specific content. This is the basic idea of duplinking.
More use of Deep Linking is that you buy a book from the website and there is also an Android app on the website. If you somehow get a deep link to your desired book, then the link will try to take you to the application on the Android web page (if Deep Linked). Why is this done?
Because, an application from a normal web page is much more interactive and convenient to use. If you do not have the application installed then the link can take you to the App Store near the App Store. Then you installed the app, opened it but could not go to the particular book. Because Deep Link's data could not take you to the next stage of the app install. Finished before the next instruction was given. If the app was already installed, Direct could take you to the desired book. This is a big problem if you have not previously installed the app. You can not go to the book's page in the application.
Again, the deep linking of the Android app is available if the iPhone's app's destination is not given? If the iPhone app is available and the app is installed, you can not move it to the application. It seems to work differently for different devices.
Goo.gl has the same limitations. So they will start using FDL with a new idea, excluding goo.gl., because goo.gl has many options, so they will only offer app centric services through FIREBASE. The advantage of FDL is that it is possible to do a link with Android IOS and deep linking of web apps. These links are called smart links.
What is firebase?
Firebase is a mobile and web application development platform. Established in 2011 by James Templing and Andreu Lee. Later, Google acquired the company in 2014. It provides services such as analytics, cloud messaging, realtime database, hosting, indexing, and creation and maintenance of apps.
Opinion
Although Google says the URLs will be redirected even after the service is closed, I still have a lot of doubt about this. Because keeping the links active is costly. Google will earn revenue from their FDL but how long will the service be in GOO.GL? Furthermore, due to the closure of the developer, the developers should get the new AP code for Deep Linking. Let's see what Google is taking in the next two years.
